For some background….as many of you may know, I’ve been shooting a series during the last two months calledMorning Encounter. The series was kicked off in Washington DC during the beginning of June. Upon my return, I have photographed several other models in order to conclude the series. I wanted to really wait to release images until the image series was finalized and 100% completed. I can finally say that I feel comfortable saying that.
(Back to Jessie.)
I’ve been corresponding with Jessie for probably almost a year now and she and one of the other models were really the reason for my travelling to DC with the crew. I would have never guessed she and I would create such stunning images. After we finished shooting, we all chatted for a bit and discovered that she is 100% in charge of all social marketing forone of the major cable networks. She is a really really cool chick with a good head on her shoulders; she does this for the love of art and I respect that. I wish there were more people with that mindset.
Model : Samantha Faust
Location: John Ryan’s Kitchen
Shot with a Hasselblad 500 C/M with a C T* 80mm lens
1/125, Kodak Porta 160, F13, Focused at 3.25 ft
Lighting: One Profoto Compact 300 with a 36 inch Photek Softlighter from above and One Profoto compact 300 with a 60 inch Photek Softlighter right behind the Camera.
Post Production: Scanned then cropped. Everything else = straight out of the camera, untouched.
To read more about the shoot and see behind the scenes photos/video go to
Thanks to John Ryan for arranging the shoot, holding the reflector and letting me convert his kitchen into a studio.
Lighting: Profoto Compact 300 with a 60 inch Photek Softlighter to camera left at 1/4 power as a fill. Profoto compact 300 with a 36 inch Photek Softlighter to camera right at full power on a boom stand as a key light.
Thanks to John Ryan, Matt Bell and Katie Schmidt for the help!
From the 4th through the 8th, I’ll be in our nation’s capital shooting some talented models; needless to say, it’s been an experience working through schedules with so many people. There are 10 models, 6 makeup artists, 1 hair stylist, and 1 wardrobe stylist. I’m also bringing my good friends Matt Bell and Katie Schmidt to indulge in the fun. The goal of this trip is to really beef up my portfolio in a short period of time; everyone is trading services, what a marvelous way of getting things done! I made sure I scheduled lots of down time so we could also explore and have some fun when we put the cameras down.
In addition to my digital arsenal, I’m also bringing my Polaroid SX-70, and my Nikon AF film camera. Be on the lookout for a TON of new material over the next month which can be viewed here!
Picked up a new toy the other day and my buddy John Flaherty tossed me a roll of 400 speed film to test it out. Needless to say, it surprisingly still worked. I picked it up for $1.99 at Goodwill while rummaging about looking for film SLR equipment. It took me a few days here and there to shoot 24 exposures. One thing I wasn’t really sure about was the minimal focusing distance or whether the meter was actually gonna work properly. Here’s a few sample shots from her test roll:
Photography Paul Byun Subject Alyssa Rich Hair Stylist Kyle Britt
It’s been a year since I started exploring the technique of creating the painterly look. So far, I’ve been applying the technique of “painting with a single light”, meaning I have been creating a composite from layering many different exposures taken on a camera that’s been positioned stationary. However, I’ve come to a realization that this technique is disadvantageous in the most important aspect of the art of photography; capturing an honest moment. So I’ve decided to turn down a notch from lighting too much and focus more on capturing the beauty in the environment’s authentic value and the emotional energy within the main subject that correlates to an elegant art of storytelling. In some sense, I feel like I’ve grown as a photographer and I’m now starting to see the beauty in carefully crafting my lighting to maximize it’s level of elegance rather than losing focus by over thinking to “show off” to reveal everything within the frame.
Alyssa and Kyle did an amazing job and I thank them very very much for having faith in my vision! I also thank Alyssa’s brother, Nick, for being my human light stand.
Technical Info
The shot was taken at 1/100, ISO 50, F.6.5, 38mm
Profoto Compact 300 with a 60 inch Photek Softlighter was set up beside the camera at its 3/4 power as a fill light. The light faced slightly off the subject in order to make the scene extra soft by using its spill light.
Nick was holding up a Profoto Compact 300 at its 1/2 power above the model with a 36 inch Photek Softlighter as a main light. This light was also tilted slightly away from the model to use its spill light to make the photograph as soft as possible.
I was hanging out with my photo friends today at my friend John’s video shoot. As usual, I brought my camera along and took thousands of pics to create a stop motion. Interestingly, I have no clue what I exactly did in the post production, but the video ended up having this “ghost” effect. I think it’s pretty sweet. Paul Byun
Photography John Ryan Flaherty Subject Hannah Fairweather (Background Piper Chris Donaldson and Chris Cooke) Hair Stylist Kyle Britt Makeup Artist Kristin McGuire VW Bus Bianca Banks Behind the Scenes Matt Bell Lance Moncada Kim Newmoney Paul Byun Lighting Kurt Holliday Wardrobe At the Ritz Costumes and Design Archives
I also thank Alyssa’s brother, Nick, for being my human light stand.